Book Review One: Glass

Glass by Ellen Hopkins, published by Simon Pulse.

I thought I would be speechless by the time I finished this book. However, I've found that I have a lot to say about it. I couldn't put it down. It's 681 pages and I read it in 2 days when I wasn't working. Which is really good since I've been spending a majority of my downtime just watching tv shows on my computer. So hey, it made me productive. It brought me back into the reading game. It made me want to write. But it did not make me want to do crystal meth.

If you're a friend of mine you probably know that I joke about doing crystal meth a lot. I can't stand drugs, don't have a tolerance for people who do them, and yes, can be judgmental about it. But I watch a ton of intervention and I paid attention in health class so I just don't understand why someone would do that to her body. I've joked that it helps you lose weight, which it does do for the narrator in this story, yet it completely destroys her in the process.

I don't know how to explain this format any better than it being a poetic structure. It takes the format of poems although most often it sounds like the narrator is just thinking to herself or arguing with herself. More like Kristina arguing with Bree, her personality when she's on the "monster." The monster is what she calls Meth (crystal, crank, glass all being other names for it). The poem structure will sway you into her perspective. You'll feel like you're Kristina. You'll feel confused and lost. You'll feel like you aren't rational and you're hooked in to something you can't control. I know it sounds ridiculous, but reading it made me feel like I was on meth, that I was a horrible mother and daughter and I had spun out of control. It was all I could do to put the book down and take a step back. I had to remember who I was versus who Kristina was.

As good as the poetry is, and it is helpful in constructing a believable narrator and story, I was troubled by the line breaks. There were many that were unsophisticated, such as ending a line with or, to, one, a, do, to, for, and on. However, most of the poems had a clear construction as can be seen by the image of the poem: one is in the shape of a G and ends with "uilty," or by what words are indented and which aren't:

"Walking with the Monster

Life

was radical

right after I met

the monster.

Later, life

became

harder,

complicated.

Ultimately,

a living

hell,

like swimming

against a riptide,

walking

the wrong

direction in the fast

lane of the freeway,

waking

from sweetest

dreams to find yourself

in the middle of a

nightmare."

(Glass, Hopkins, pg 1).

As you can see, the middle lines repeat the message of the entire poem, yet they do it in a simpler, more direct form. It was interesting to view what little poems could form out of their larger counterparts and to see if they agreed with the main message Kristina was trying to convey. So even though the poems were easy to read, and the book could be read in its entirety in a small amount of time, the smaller poems, the conflict with Bree, the images portrayed by the poems, all forced me, the reader, to spend more time on the page. I couldn't just take it at face value; there was too much to digest.

Unfortunately when I got the book I didn't realize that it was the second part to an already established story about Kristina: Crank, by Ellen Hopkins. I also didn't realize that it was her daughter's story I was reading until I had already started the book. None of this was especially needed information to appreciate Glass, however it does make me respect Hopkins more for not only choosing to write this painful story, but choosing to do so in such an intense and beautiful manner. I'm looking forward to reading more of her books in the future, and also to meeting her in May at the Festival.

P.S. I wouldn't recommend this book for younger readers. It's a sensitive subject and one that should be read with understanding and maturity. There are a lot of intense and emotional topics including graphic and suggestive imagery. However, I would recommend this to anyone who needs to understand why someone becomes addicted to methamphetamines and how they can continue to love and support them.

Future of the Blog

So I was thinking about what the shape of this blog should be. We all know my life isn't fascinating enough to constantly keep Michaela's Voice updated on it. Besides, it wouldn't affect a ton of people. What could affect people is what I read. I have a pretty extensive library of books and and even bigger list of books I want to read. Have a request? Send it in! I'm going to start reviewing what I read, writing down what I see selling at Barnes and Noble, and even some suggestions that I overhear.

Keep in mind that it's mainly going to be young adult. It's what I love to read, what I can relate to, and what I want to write. I figure if my writing career never pans out (and for it to be successful I'll have to actually get writing one of these days) I'll always have reading. I've always loved to read ever since I first learned how. I spent hours a day reading. I read one book in the morning on my way to school and another book on my way home in elementary school. You couldn't pry chapter books away from me in middle school. And I devoured young adult lit like it was Halloween candy in high school. So you can pretty much put your money on there always being a book in my bag.

First Review to keep an eye out for: Glass by Ellen Hopkins. This is my first Hopkins' book in preparation for the Teen Lit Festival in Rochester May 15th. It's crazy how excited I can be about something months away but if you look at the list of attending authors below you'll see why.

Greater Rochester Teen Book Festival

May 15, 2010

Nazareth College

Authors:

Laurie Halse Anderson (<3)

Coe Booth

Robin Brande

Kay Cassidy

Marissa Doyle

Simone Elkeles

Ellen Hopkins

Patrick Jones

James Kennedy

A.S. King

Daniel Kirk

Alisa Libby

E. Lockhart (<3)

Barry Lyga

Mari Mancusi

Lisa McMann

Ben Mikaelsen

Alyson Noel

Sarah Ockler

Matt de la Pena

Lisa Schroeder

Jennifer Smith

Terry Trueman

Vivian Vande Velde

Martin Wilson

Two of these authors are on my favorites list but I plan on reading at least a little of everyone else's work before the big day to prepare. Stay tuned for some reviews on what I read.

Much Better

So I feel much better, as the title suggests. The car situation is almost fixed (finally!) and I'm getting a pretty nice settlement considering the fact that I was pretty much screwed over. And poor Ruthie was crushed into a small box.

Ruthie after the accident:

Have a new car, still unnamed, that is actually pretty comfortable to drive considering I've been driving myself everywhere lately. :[ I miss my chauffeur.

Got my driver's license in the mail today. Along with a ridiculously over-priced heating bill, which I managed to get fixed. It's not so bad being an adult as long as you stay on top of things. Just know your budget and what cost-effective things you have to do to stay in budget. If that means buying a Sunday paper for the coupons, layering up to avoid turning on the heat, and doing laundry at your parent's house, that's fine. As long as you can stay afloat and you're happy, then what does it matter?

And I am happy. Particularly because I just finished this amazing teen book: This Book isn't Fat, it's Fabulous by Nina Beck. I hope my opinion counts for something in the Teen Lit world (just look at my recommendations to the left) because this one is a must-read if you like teen lit. It's hilarious due to the main character who doesn't realize she's a snooty New Yorker. She actually gets out and smells nature in an undeniably cute trip to upstate New York. She doesn't know what love feels like even though she believes she is in love, and to top it all off, she gets sent to fat camp and tries to keep it a secret!

I don't want to ruin anything for you, but if you ever get so into character that your heart literally hurts for someone in a novel, then this one is for you. I've got to say I fell for one of the characters (although Riley the main character is charming, it wasn't her) and my heart crunched up. I love that feeling because it shows not only that the book has heart but that it's making an impact on me. I'll remember these people. They aren't just words on a page.

Anyway, besides all that, the Christmas shopping is going really well! The knitting is improving, and I really should do this NANOWRIMO thing. If only it were warmer...

One of those days...

You ever have one of those days where everything annoys you?

Take today for instance, I woke up and heard the dogs whining (who I am watching for a week while my mom is in California). That was annoying because I had to get up earlier (like 6:20 instead of 6:30, but when you're exhausted ten minutes can mean the world) and take them out. Then I bring them back in, get changed, and notice they went to the bathroom in the living room. Fuck. Now I have to clean that up, eat an eggo quick, and run out the door.

Now I'm also annoyed because I have to drive and I hate driving. Get to work, there aren't that many shelves to do, almost seems like a waste of time for me to go in. I then keep myself busy for a few hours. Get back on the road to go home and no one wants to do the speed limit!

Why am I the only person that understands you'll get a ticket for going 10-15 miles over? Sure, 5 miles is fine (although during my 5-hour course she said you could get a ticket for going even ONE mile over!). So everyone is racing by me per usual and I decide I should merge over to the middle lane since my lane just became an exit only. I look at my blind spot and in all the appropriate mirrors, slow down because the car in that lane is going the speed limit (nice truck) and then am halfway over when a red car zips out of nowhere and proceeds to go through the middle lane and then the left lane, no turn signals in sight. Like, what the fuck, if you're going to turn use the signal. It's there for a reason. So not only am I scared to merge now because he came out of nowhere, but now a truck is coming up behind me and the truck infront of that is going too slow for me to merge over. I'm stuck in the exit only lane. No big deal, except I get off and don't know where I'm going.

I take a series of wrong turns and then finally pull over only to realize that when I switched cars with my mom I brought the gps in the house and don't have it with me. I call Ravee for directions and by that time I already frustrated and sick of driving so I don't have the patience for small talk. To make a long story short, I almost get killed like 10 times, I end up at the zoo. I have to turn around to get back, I go down what I thought was a street but turns out to only be the entrance to a parking garage, and no one in the city wants to go 30 or let me ahead of them.

Get home, still pissed that the insurance lady has never called me back with the quote for how much my totaled car is gonna get me. Why do I have to do everything? I had to get it towed, and find rides for me and Ravee, had to call to get it inspected, had to call both insurance companies with information, had to clean out the car and take the plates off and get it towed to a junkyard. Had to pay the towing company and drive back to Henrietta to get the money from the junkyard. Had to drive to Buffalo by myself to sign the paperwork and pay for a new car. Had to print out new registration forms and mail the license plates to my mom and get the police report and fucking keep hounding this lady to get with the program. Had to drive back to Batavia to get my new car, and pay for collision, and get everything transferred over, and get this car inspected twice. All this lady has to do is call me back. And she can't even do that.

Does she not understand that two people are sharing one car for three jobs and four classes? It's a little nerve-wrecking.

So yep, annoyed about all of that and now the knitting I was working on just got unraveled and I have to finish like 14 rows all over again.

Seems like one of those days I should just call quits and head to bed. Only tomorrow I'm working both jobs and won't have this free time.

Inspiration

New in life?

1. I got in a car accident

2. I got my license

3. I am in serious need of inspiration.

So, if you're like me in one out of those three items, here's two of my favorite quotes from Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson. This novel is so beautifully and creatively written that it'll make you want to devise your own artsy sayings and colorful metaphors. You'll want to taste the words as they come pouring onto the page. I swear, it's an amazing tale.

pg. 15 "The snow drifts into our zombie mouths crawling with grease and curses and tobacco flakes and cavities and boyfriend/girlfriend juice, the stain of lies. For one moment we are not failed tests and broken condoms and cheating on essays; we are crayons and lunch boxes and swinging so high our sneakers punch holes in the clouds. For one breath everything feels better."

pg. 16 "When I was a real girl, my mother fed me her glass dreams one spoonful at a time."

As the story continued the writing was just more and more inspiring, however I had a hard time tearing myself away from the novel in order to jot the quotes down. But still, these are two of my favorites.

Two of my favorite characters are named Max

What if they're wrong

What if there isn't talent tattooed

under my fingerprints?

What if inspiration doesn't lie

in my veins

but lies from their mouths instead?

What's the truth but a fabrication

with collaborating

witnesses and pictures

construed to deceive you further

and branch your mind

pushing those hopes high.

Mistakes are made when you lose yourself

in daydreams

and future plans.

Mistakes are made when you're made to believe

rather than conceive.

Make it on your own-follow your own path-walk to the beat of your own drum

yet sheep walk among us

and threaten us to fit

in. Don't dare to achieve

don't dare to succeed.

Climb that ladder

and they'll cut the rungs

and leave you at the top

with nothing but your DNA.

How's that for humanity?

I've been re-watching Dark Angel lately and it got me thinking about how DNA makes you "all you can be." Which reminds me of my favorite character from Roswell: Max Evans. Besides the fact that he's extremely hot, he also had a different genetic makeup. I wonder if there's anything special in my genes to make me all I can be in life. I wonder if this is it for me. I wonder if I'll ever accomplish my dreams, or even what they are anymore. It's gotten harder and harder to dream in the past few years. I feel like I know what life is like and I can't ever get past the initial conception. If there's more for me I hope I can motivate myself to half-dream it and half-earn it. I wouldn't want it any other way.

Stay warm; put those Artvoice paper copies in the fire and turn to www.artvoice.com for all your Buffalo information.

Buffalo, I Love You

I can't officially announce the winner here of course, but I can tell you that there was a clear winner. Why? Because hardly anyone submitted and those that did barely could follow the rules. It was sad to see and frustrating that we couldn't do much about it since the deadline had already been extended.

I've run into this problem before as President of the English Club at SUNY Brockport. Either people really just don't care, they got too busy, or the prizes weren't good enough. I'm not sure what was the case here but I think Artvoice.com did plenty of marketing for the event from one of their hard copy issues, to a link on their website, to constant mentions in their Facebook and Myspace statuses. I'm not really sure if they just weren't hitting the target audience or if those who truly wanted to submit just got lazy or busy.

I was thinking about submitting because I wanted to show my love for Buffalo from my new city of Rochester. I wanted to show that I wasn't a complete traitor and that no city makes me feel like B-Lo. There's a kind of pride there that just can't be replicated. We know Football, Baseball, Lacrosse. We know the arts. We know snow. We know how to drink and party. We know music and disappointment. We know how to fight for what we want and continue our loyalty even when someone screws it all up. We can handle loss but we're still proud to say we're from Buffalo.

So here's a few pictures of what I wanted to incorporate into my video in an attempt to show my love for Buffalo:Here's my collection of playbills and some tickets from all the shows I've seen at Shea's. Amazing performance every time.

Here's 2 of my Bisons bobbleheads. I love when they give these out at the games!

This is my 716 shirt to show my pride of my area code/hometown. :]

This is a Buffalo pin I have so I can always carry a little piece of my hometown with me.



**Shea's Playbills:
The King and I
The Nutcracker
The Wizard of Oz
Grease
Stomp
Mamma Mia
Les Miserables
The Producers
Beauty and the Beast
Phantom of the Opera
Wicked
Rent
Radio City: Christmas Spectacular with the Rockettes
The Lion King
The Color Purple
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Thanks mom for taking the time and money to show me all of these wonderful productions!

Hello and Welcome Back!

I think I'd like to start out by saying, wow, this isn't as hard as I thought it was going to be. Or maybe nanananana to all the people who told me living on your own is difficult and all that. Really? Were you just trying to scare me? Granted, it's been two months now in the apartment in Rochester, so I guess I haven't been out that long, but I would think the first two months would be the hardest, right? The first two to four weeks were actually hard, but not financially. Just emotionally. Getting used to being away from my family and pets was really upsetting. I think I cried a lot then (although don't let that mean much since I also cried a lot at home, ironic, I know). Also, the whole living-with-the-boyfriend thing took some getting used to. There's always the argument over who is going to do the dishes, or who has the ugly furniture, or why I don't have my license so he has to wake up at 6am to drive me to work. Although, if you see it from my side, I bought the car, why do I have to drive it too? I mean, seriously, that was a lot of sacrifice on my part. There was the car, the insurance, the registration, getting some work done on it, mainly doing all the gas payments, getting the oil changed and all that jazz. My work here is done!

Not really, my road test is on October 19th. There was a prior road test that I didn't get to take due to unforeseen circumstances (i.e. someone's carelessness that shall not be mentioned since he's been punished enough).

But back to the main issue: the apartment thing? Not that hard. I turn off the lights and unplug cords when I'm not using them. I wake up and go to work. I eat lunch, I nap, I knit, I go to the other job. I make dinner, do dishes, sweep, shower, do laundry, go grocery shopping, get more gas, read ... I think the biggest problem I have is deciding what to make for dinner. So no complaints. I'm trying to get back into the working out mode since I was focusing on everything else for so long. Now that I know I can do the daily stuff and make rent, I think I can get back to focusing on me. I have to write this book! Besides the fact that my mom keeps pestering me to get back to writing, I need it out of my system. I need to feel accomplished. I need the satisfaction and to finally do something with my life. I guess I feel like I'm floating through it. Or maybe it's passing me by. Either way, I feel like I could do this whole day-to-day, going through the motions forever and not ever make myself proud to have achieved something.

So I'm going to go now and try to write some of Chapter Two of Shaken, Not Stirred.

I wrote this little poem to go at the beginning of the book. I'm still not sure if I like it or not ...

This isn't Disneyland

Darling little toenails

painted Flamingo pink burn

like a candle in the dark. "Every

day is a discovery," she says as they wiggle

onto the flaming coals.

It's figurative foreshadowing to the discoveries the main character makes about herself and the major hurdle that she has to face during the climax of the novel. (Wow, look at all those English major terms I used!)

'Till next time, get out there and read!

No Internet equals No New Posts :[

So if you're like me (a recent Buffalonian who moved to Rochester to be with her boyfriend and find a new job and learn how to drive and get an apartment without the internet because she's trying desperately to save money before she hits it big like Meg Cabot) then you don't have much opportunity to check out Artvoice.com. Depressing, isn't it? Well, lucky for me (not so sure about you) that my mom still saves me the paper copies and I can take them out into this beautiful 80 degree weather and check up on the Queen City.

Besides, who wants to sit in air conditioning all day looking at a computer screen when they can enjoy the last of this dying season with some quality reading material? Not I!

Which reminds me, in case you didn't look at the last post, we're sponsoring a video contest about why Buffalonians love their city so much. So please feel free to check out the site, the rules, go film some stuff, feel patriotic ... eat a hot dog, check out a Bisons game, or just feel nostalgic, and SUBMIT SUBMIT SUBMIT! :]

In other news, I recently turned 22. Yuck. I miss the Buffalo Bisons and am thinking about displaying my bobbleheads proudly around my apartment. I miss my family like crazy, but luckily I'm coming back this weekend to check out my all-time favorite : ERIE COUNTY FAIR! We get our picture taken every year and put it on a button (so this year marks our 19th button, sweet, huh?) I also am a newly employed Target worker and am pretty stoked about everything but the khakis. Seriously, khakis? No one looks good in them. They just make your butt look all big and jiggly. Like jello. Which sounds pretty good about now since I don't have much food in the new place. Although the lack of jello could in turn decrease the jello-like quality of my booty. Ironic.

Well I'm off since I'm inside the air-conditioned library and would very much like to go outside and enjoy the sunshine before I start pulling doubles at the jobs to save on cash. Also, I just got Airhead, the newish Meg Cabot book I have been searching for, and am dying to read it.

P.S. Finished The Treasure Map of Boys by E. Lockhart today and it was just touching, endearing, sweet, funny, and pretty much all-around amazing. I am so grateful to have characters like Ruby Oliver to sneak into for a while. She's refreshing and silly and just neurotic which is really enjoyable. After all, who doesn't like a little boy-obsession from time to time? I highly recommend it (but read The Boyfriend List and The Boy Book first!)

Submit your videos!

Time to tell folks why you love Buffalo! Submit your videos at Artvoice.com : http://artvoice.com/videocontest

It's been a while ...

I know, I know! It's been almost forever since I've updated. Which just goes to show you how many events and interesting "real life" things have been going on! (And if you still don't think there's anything to do after all of my shameful plugging of artvoice.com then you are just not willing to put in the effort).

For instance ... A few years ago I traveled to Germany to visit some of my old exchange students that I had hosted. Before I left I saw an exhibit in a museum which was truly fascinating. There were displays of human anatomy doing various types of activities. You could see the muscles, the tendons, the veins, pretty much everything but the skin. It was art, it was science, it was pretty much educational and mind-bending. So to my surprise, this is going to be at the Buffalo Museum of Science starting July 9th! That's just a few days away, so I encourage whoever is reading this to check it out if you're in the area. It's definitely worth it. Cue the Artvoice link : http://artvoice.com/issues/v8n27/syt

If you're wondering what I've been up to personally, I've been dying a slow death due to the endless pursuit of an apartment. It is really taking a toll since the price, the allowance of pets, the neighborhood, and the size all have to match up. I wish it wasn't this hard to find a decent place to live in Rochester. It's getting pretty ridiculous. Especially since I finally found a job! Strike that, TWO jobs! Ha! That's right, not only did I find two, but I plan on hoarding them from anyone else. If I get another offer, hell yeah I'll take it. I want them all!

Okay, I agree, that's greedy. Especially since I have to juggle the apartment with the boyfriend and the dogs, the jobs, the internship with Artvoice, and ... I'm still learning how to drive. Yep, it's taking some time. However, I don't think it's fair to judge me on this. I never wanted to drive. I fully intended to go the rest of my life without learning. I wanted to live in NYC and take the subway to beautiful restaurants and work on writing in small cafes and Central Park. So in all actuality, I should be praised for taking this giant leap and doing something wild and dangerous that I never wanted to do. So yeah, go me!

Now can we just lower those gas prices ...

{Interesting column on the economy and our new views on saving money: http://artvoice.com/issues/v8n11/getting_a_grip }

Weekend at Allentown

Every summer I look forward to Allentown Art Festival and this summer was no different. As usual, it didn't disappoint; I got my fried dough, I spent quality time with my family, I got some exercise and time out of the house, and I was able to purchase new art!

This year I went pretty early on Saturday so it didn't seem as crowded when I was there, always better to see the art, and it wasn't too hot. My friend, Alison, said that she sold a lot that day, which has been unusual in the recent years due to the stressful economy. I noticed that she, as well as many other artists, have been focusing on Buffalo a lot more lately. Wherever you turned there were Buffalos on t-shirts, hand-embroidered, painted, sculpted, drawn, and carved. There was Buffalo scenery (usually at the Buffalography booth) along with the actual Buffalo animals and a cool new booth full of shirts with such phrases as : "My city smells like Cheerios," "McKinley's Last Stop," and "Born in Buffalo." Website here: http://borninbuffalo.net/shop/

The other big seller was garden accessories (I would know because my mother bought two custom-designed signs since she is obsessed with her garden this summer):

On Sunday I spent the whole day there. It was harder to find something healthy to eat when all you smell is the sizzling philly cheesesteaks, the sweet sugar-topped fried dough, and the savory Sahlen's hot dogs. I was surrounded by pastries, cookies, onion rings, fries and pretty much every other caloriefied junk food. But the pedometer on my phone kept me in check, needless to say, I went way over the daily 10,000 miles that day.

There was also a marching band! I didn't get to hear them play, but

when we stopped to rest in the nearby park the band also came to take a breather.

I liked the work at this booth: http://www.cehullphotography.com/vegetables2.html

Mainly because I want to decorate my kitchen with canvases like these of vegetables.

I think the best part about Allentown is that it lets Buffalonians get together to appreciate the finer things in life: music, art, crafts, food, and the company of others. Despite the high heat everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. They were even partying on the rooftops.

There was some pretty glassware that was painted with flowers:

And Alison's booth was full of a mix of paintings and 3-D media. I liked the painting with the martinis and the olives were 3-D with their own little attitudes. I bought the smaller Buffalo print with the three different Buffalos for my sister for Christmas. Here is a look at her booth:

Haha, the other highlight of my Allentown adventure was mentioning www.artvoice.com in my normal conversations with my sister:

"Hey, I was online looking at something ..." -me

"On artvoice.com?" -my sister

"Yes, artvoice.com has a lot of interesting things!" -me.

Next up, my review of Pano's, since it was my first time there after Allentown.

My favorite genre

Young Adult Lit. I love it. I read it. I write it. I devour it. I live it. I just adore it.

Don't knock it until you've tried it. Sometimes the best thing to get back your inner child is to live their life for a couple hundred pages. Or it's the best way to live vicariously through a rebel, the opposite gender, someone more charming than you, someone with a different passion than you, or just a different culture or sex drive. How else can you experience life as someone else? That's truly the best thing about literature.

When I was younger I would read a book or two a day (another good thing about young adult lit is that it's quick to read, even though the themes and plot can be as emotional and struggling as many adult texts). I remember a reading log I had to keep in 5th or 6th grade and I read over 100 books that year. I think my teacher thought I was making some of them up but I promise I read them all cover to cover.

Just recently I got rid of hundreds of books I had kept from my childhood. We tried to sell them at a garage sale but I suppose no one wants children's/young adult books from 10 years ago. That's sad. I ended up donating many of them to the Goodwill. However, there were many that had emotional significance for me and had to be kept. Such as the Sweet Valley High: Senior Year books from Francine Pascal, the Fearless Series from Francine Pascal, and many of my more recent young adult picks, such as Meg Cabot, E. Lockhart, and the classics like Catcher in the Rye and Weetzie Bat. Speaking of which, Weetzie Bat's author, Francesca Lia Block, has written a new book of poems, the cover of which I simply adore!

How cute is that?! Plus the excerpts I have read from it seem emotionally captivating. I'm not sure if I'm allowed to post an excerpt here due to the copyright, but I am taken aback by "thirteen: the little oven ..." so if you have a chance to read it, go for it! If that's an example of what's to come, I definitely will need a copy of this book.

My recommendations for the moment are on the left of my page. There are so many books I want to read at the moment, however my unemployed status has significantly limited the amount of books I can buy, and my lack of mobility due to my learner's permit and my mom's constant double shifts have limited the amount of libraries I can visit.

However, if you have a chance to pick up any young adult books at the moment, I recommend Audrey, Wait! if you want to know how one girl's life can change due to an ex's song about their break up, Cathy's Book if you want to know about a teenage female artist and her encounter with an interesting group of individuals who don't appear to age, and The Perks of Being a Wallflower if you want the perspective of someone who feels like they're on the outside looking in.

Of course I have a million more recommendations, so as soon as I have a new place and a bookshelf with all of my books proudly displayed, I'll let you know some more wonderful finds. I can't wait to rediscover them with you.

P.S. Until then, lit city events in Buffalo courtesy of Artvoice: http://artvoice.com/issues/v8n24/literary_buffalo/lit_city .

The Queen City

Did you know that Samuel L. Clemens (aka. Mark Twain) helped found the Buffalo and Erie County Library before he left the Queen City? It's true! Just check out www.buffalofilmfestival.com.That could be why there is a special exhibit in the library dedicated just to him. Plus the fact that he left the library with a handwritten manuscript of Huckleberry Finn. If you've never been to the downtown library it's worth it to go just to see this room full of history. 

Did you know that Millard Fillmore (1800-1874), the 13th President of the United States, is buried in the Forest Lawn Cemetery? He is buried in Section F. "Today, there are more than 10,000 trees in Forest Lawn, representing 200 different species and varieties and making the cemetery an important arboretum. One tree, an American beech, became Buffalo’s winning tree in the country’s bicentennial, when it was confirmed to have been standing in 1776" (http://www.forest-lawn.com/?select=about&data=history). 

Did you know that Artvoice Newspaper is Buffalo's oldest and largest weekly newspaper? It was founded in 1990. It has been holding the Artie Awards for 19 years now. It has a circulation of 65,000. And if you're Artvoice Newspaper's friend on Facebook now you can get 3 of the "How Well do you know Artvoice Newspaper" questions right! Become it's friend here: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1782521299&ref=ts. If you check out the website there are plenty of pretty still life pictures like this one: 

                                                                              

Which reminds me of a Buffalo photographer who is ALWAYS at the Allentown Art Festival (which is this weekend!) and has wonderful images of the historical locations in Buffalo. I can't wait to see if he has any new pictures this year. Also, my mom's friend, Alison Kurek, has a booth every year which features a ton of clay and print pieces focusing on cats. I have a bunch of her stuff and she is really talented. Find some of it here: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5219717  if you don't have time to visit any of the art festivals in Buffalo this summer. There are adorable ornaments, magnets, little knick knacks, powerful photographs (not of cats), and some jewelry. 

                                        

It's always nice to support not only local spots (like the culural locations such as the museums, library, zoo and so on) but also local artists, local newspapers, and just take advantage of the freebies that are around your area. Which reminds me that I am still pissed at my boyfriend for not knowing about the Teen Lit Festival in Rochester in April! You can bet your booty that I am going next year! 

The Color Purple

I recently finished re-reading The Color Purple by Alice Walker, just in time for me to see the musical at Shea's Performing Arts Center (shown below) with my mom on opening night.


I absolutely loved the book and with good reason: it was well written in the Southern dialect, it was compelling and interesting, the plot was believable, and it delivered emotion and powerful knowledge on the African experience. The musical was also well executed, however, I feel it fell short of Walker's racially complicated themes and questions. In the novel form one was meant to feel the struggle blacks felt not only in the Southern states of America, but also the disconnect between themselves and their former relatives: those living in Africa who sold them into slavery. This wasn't even touched upon in the musical. I understand that in a 2 hour time slot it may be hard to force people to remove stereotypes and misconceptions about "the black woman" and furthermore to create a complicated relationship not only between white and black southerners but also between African-Americans and native Africans, but it could have been done. Frankly I am disappointed.

What also struck me as odd was the fact that Oprah Winfrey was so in love with the book (they say she handed out free copies to strangers) that she decided to help produce this musical, and also starred in the movie as Sofia. Okay, I may lose a few of you here because I'm not such a huge Oprah fan, but I believe that her role as the influential black woman that she is should be used to help her race in regards to equality. Instead, she chose the role of the "boisterous large black woman" to play in the movie. This seems to further the stereotype (as was also shown in the musical when the actress playing Sofia stole the show). Why would Oprah want people to continuously have this image of black women across America? Why wouldn't she want to convey more of Nettie's hardship in Africa to show the struggle that African-Americans have: they aren't accepted in America because they're black, yet they aren't accepted in Africa because they had been sold, they aren't black enough, they don't understand the customs, and they are Americanized. It reminds me of the feelings associated with "passing" : a black woman may pass as white however she doesn't feel connected to either race and therefore has no place, no culture, no people of her own.

Ironically, back when this was set the role of Sofia as a woman who refuses to be beaten by her husband, who stands up to the mayor, and who doesn't lie to a white woman simply to make her happy, was probably a rebellious role. She was the woman who the white people didn't like because she didn't go along with their view of how a black woman should act. Yet, when I was sitting there in the audience watching Sofia sing "hell no" to letting anyone beat her, listening to the audience cheer and roar in agreement, I realized that the tide had turned. Now Sofia clearly is the stereotypical black woman and it seems as if white people love her more for that. Is it because they can respect someone who stands up for herself? Is it because she says it like it is and doesn't give false sympathy? Or is it because when she acts loud and troublesome she doesn't remind the white majority of the weak slave bowing before the master, thus giving them a guilty conscious?

I admit that I didn't think of all of this during the show (after all, I LOVE musicals and enjoyed myself). But I was disheartened when key elements of Walker's narrative weren't even slightly mentioned onstage. And I was frustrated when women that barely paid attention during the second act (because they were chatting with each other and disturbing my experience) cheered the loudest for the actresses as if they could subconsciously feel their struggle and understand their pain without even listening, simply because of the color of their skin. I, on the other hand, couldn't relate to the characters without Celie's voice in my head. It was her broken spelling that lent itself to my imagination. It was her description and numbness towards Mr ___ that pulled at my heartstrings. It was her obsessive wondering about Shug Avery that fed my understanding of her character. None of that was strongly displayed in the musical, therefore I felt as if I was watching something entirely new and unconnected to Alice Walker's work.

When everyone burst out clapping in the final moments of the musical I couldn't help but feel cheated. We didn't have the same uncertainty as we had in the novel. We hadn't learned anything about Adam and Olivia. We didn't even experience the lengthiness of the time elapsed since Celie barely appeared to age (I suppose since she was the same height from age 14 to 50).

Don't let my questions and disappointment about this musical trick you into thinking I didn't enjoy it. It had wonderful music (loud, strong gospel voices which make you want to rise to your feet and let your lungs carry you onto the stage with them) and the set designs were equally beautiful and powerful. Also, it's a musical that has won so many awards it's worth it just to go and see the talent. Experience a Broadway phenomenon!

Just make sure you read the book too.


P.S. None of these comments were meant to offend, just simply the ramblings of the author.

P.P.S. Here's another review of The Color Purple: http://artvoice.com/issues/v8n23/theaterweek

S'more Lovin'

I hope it doesn't seem like all I've been talking about lately is food. Because even if food is on my mind a lot (mainly because it's all you smell in the summer as you walk down your BBQ filled streets) I don't want to bore everyone to tears with my incessant chatter about it. I'll leave it to this post and then go on to more pressing matters (like weight loss, ha!).

But for now, I have to tell you about my love for s'mores. It goes about the same length as my love for fried dough: both seem easy to make and can be eaten year-round, even if I tend to crave them more during the sweltering summer months. I make them on the stove-top. I stick the marshmallow right into the flame and let it puff up on fire until I have to blow it out. That's the best: it's crunchy and gooey and just plain delicious.

And they're versatile! Above is a picture of s'more brownies I made for my sister's graduation party last sumer. It was real easy because you just use brownie mix over some graham crackers and then put marshmallows on top when you bake it. I think we have some kind of baking obsession in my household because my sister loves to make cupcakes and I love to make cakes. Any kind of cake, ice cream or otherwise: 

This one was especially easy because you just layered ice cream sandwiches ontop of pudding mix with little bits of oreo cookie in it. You frost it with cool whip, press foil around it and freeze until you're ready to serve! Below is a cake I made for my nephew's

 birthday this year (thank you www.bettycrocker.com) : 

Another reason I'm talking about food is because I've been looking for a job lately. My entire resume is full of food service experience and personally I am IN LOVE with literature. Not food. But you wouldn't know it by looking at my resume and that depresses me. I've worked at a few places in the Buffalo area that just had amazing selections. Such as this panini below from Diamond Hawk Golf Course (Sonwil Drive in Cheektowaga), which I bet you didn't know you could eat at without golfing, and most of the pastas at Bravo Cafe and Catering (Seneca Street in Elma). 

Of course we're in hard times and everyone is trying not to eat out as much, understandable, yet my mother is a seasoned waitress (currently at the famous Chef's downtown [side note: Won Best Italian in Artvoice's Best of Buffalo 2009: http://artvoice.com/issues/v8n19/best_of_buffalo_winners ]), so if you feel the urge to put a little discretionary money into the economy, feel free to send it her way! (Ask for Sharon M.) 

So until my first book is finally finished and awaiting some miracle of success, or until some head honcho at a major publishing firm in the beautiful NYC decides to send an entry-level position my way, I'll be steering clear of the food service industry in the nearby city of Rochester. I love you Buffalo, you're my city through and through (and I apparently have the accent to prove it). 

Until next time, be nostalgic, think about good times, and remember, home is where the heart is.

In rememberance. . .

In rememberance of my times at Brockport I was thinking about what annoyed me most during my time there. After all, it's always easier to stop missing something when you focus on the negative (which also explains the troubles with me and long-distance dating).  So when I think about all of the wonderful times I had during my 3 and a half years at SUNY Brockport, I stop and remember the complaining that others did. The number 1 complaint that I heard during my time in that tiny town was that there was nothing to do. However, I was never bored. Imagine that! I was trapped in the bubble of Brockport which only housed a Wegmans and a Wal*Mart and yet I was never bored.

How? You ask. Well, we had a thing called an events calendar (do you sense where I'm going with this? I'll skip the runaround and cut right to it: http://artvoice.com/calendar/2009/5/31 ). Also, I was a member of clubs and I held a job. I wasn't Miss School Spirit 2008 but I knew what was going on and where I wanted to be. Therefore when others complained that there was nothing to do I sighed and bit my tongue inspite of desperately screaming inside "there are a million things to do! Pay attention!" 

That's why if you live in Buffalo, NY and you think there's nothing to do I'll fill you in on something, and take it as a secret tip from me to you ... open your eyes! For instance, yesterday I went to Delaware Park (and not just for my secret people-watching hobby) and am fixated on taking up tennis again. I wish I could say "because it's so much fun" but really I have a slight obsession with The Biggest Loser and am intent on having a Fitness Magazine body before the end of summer. Tomorrow I'll be at the Buffalo Zoo (because that's where I was supposed to be yesterday, but who knew they closed at 4pm!?). 

When I'm not busy thinking about losing weight or visiting animals I'm practicing driving down the small roads surrounding Buffalo. Another secret tip: Forest Lawn Cemetary is not only beautiful, but also a great place to practice some safe and slow driving. Yes I am 21 and learning how to drive. To each her own. 

Another fun summer activity: looking at classical cars at local eateries such as Anderson's (voted best ice cream/frozen yogurt in Artvoice's Best of Buffalo 2009). 

Local fact about me and Buffalo: My mom was first married at Botanical Gardens. It was beautiful, as was she. 

Until next time, keep smiling!